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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

The Defector Crewneck Sweatshirt Is Back In Stock

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Merch v3

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Ray Ratto

Luton Town players applaud fans after game was abandoned after team-mate Tom Lockyer needed lengthy medical treatment before being stretchered off during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Luton Town at Vitality Stadium on December 16, 2023 in Bournemouth, England.

Luton Town

Soccer

The Frightening Familiarity Of Tom Lockyer’s On-Field Collapse

This picture taken on November 18, 2016 shows a worker checking parts of a toilet bowl on the production line in a factory of Taiwan's largest toilet maker HCG in Taoyuan. According to the United Nations, there are 2.4 billion people living without a toilet in the world. (Photo by SAM YEH / AFP) (Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)

TAIWAN-ENVIRONMENT-WORLD-TOILET-DAY

College Football

Bowling For Dollars

Inglewood, CA - December 10: Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley watches from the sideline during the second half against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Chargers vs Broncos

This Is Not The Face Of A Man With Job Security [Update]

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi speaks during a news conference at Oracle Park in the Nick Peters interview room on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in San Francisco, CA.

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi speaks during a news conference at Oracle Park in the Nick Peters interview room on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in San Francisco,  CA.

The Giants Have A Problem And It’s Not San Francisco

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels watches a game against the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 16, 2023 in Anaheim, California.

Detroit Tigers v Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani’s Free Agency Drove The Ball Writers Batty

Bilal Coulibaly #0 of the Washington Wizards battles for control of the ball against Isaiah Stewart #28 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on November 27, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. Washington won the game 126-107.

Washington Wizards v Detroit Pistons

The In-Season Tournament For Even The Least Of Us

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels in the dugout while playing the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 17, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

How Mad Would You Be If Shohei Ohtani Re-Signed In Anaheim?

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 4: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates during the game against the Boston Celtics during the quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament on December 4, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

In-Season Tournament – Boston Celtics v Indiana Pacers

The Pacers Are Back, Or At Least Getting There

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 02: SEC Comissioner Greg Sankey looks on before the college football SEC Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on December 2, 2023 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire)

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 02 SEC Championship Game – Georgia vs Alabama

Florida State Never Had A Chance

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers exchanges words with Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Dom DiSandro at Lincoln Financial Field on December 03, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers and Dom DiSandro of the Eagles were disqualified after the altercation. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers v Philadelphia Eagles

The 49ers Are Big Dom Now

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 10: Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, is seen during the basketball friendly match played between Real Madrid and Dallas Mavericks at Wizink Center pavilion on October 10, 2023, in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Real Madrid V Dallas Mavericks – Basketball Friendly Match

Why Is Mark Cuban Selling?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 23: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field with a turkey after beating the Seattle Seahawks 31-13 at Lumen Field on November 23, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks

The 49ers Aren’t Going To Win The Interesting Bowl

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 26: Keenan Allen #13 of the Los Angeles Chargers takes the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at SoFi Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens v Los Angeles Chargers

Keenan Allen Is Squandered

MIAMI, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 17: Global Ambassador Tom Brady and Founder and CEO of Best Buddies International, Anthony K. Shriver are seen on stage at the 25th Annual Best Buddies Miami Gala at Ice Palace Film Studios on November 17, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for Best Buddies)

25th Annual Best Buddies Miami Gala Honoring Global Ambassador Tom Brady

Tom Brady Says Today’s Players Are Soft, Unlike In His Day

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 21: Obi Toppin #1 of the Indiana Pacers dunks against Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter of an NBA In-Season Tournament game at State Farm Arena on November 21, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Obi Toppin; Onyeka Okongwu

Indiana Pacers v Atlanta Hawks

Report: In-Season Tournament “Is A Real Thing”

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Former MLB player Alex Rodriguez commentates prior to Game One of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

World Series – Arizona Diamondbacks v Texas Rangers – Game One

Another Hall Of Fame Ballot, Another Chance To Get It Wrong

Charissa Thompson on set of the Amazon Prime TNF pregame show prior to an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tennessee Titans v Pittsburgh Steelers

Journalismism

Charissa Thompson Decided Her Credibility Is Worth Less Than A Few Podcast Chuckles

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Oakland Athletics fans display signs during a reverse boycott game against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 13, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Rays v Oakland Athletics

MLB Approves The Las Vegas A’s

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Matt Eberflus of the Chicago Bears reacts after a 16-13 victory against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on November 09, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Carolina Panthers v Chicago Bears

Panthers-Bears Was Not Bad Enough

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh congratulates a player during his team's win over Purdue. Presumably everything was entirely aboveboard.

Purdue v Michigan

Connor Stalions Inspires Michigan Law Professor To Ask: Are Laws Even Real?

LAS VEGAS, NV - FEBRUARY 12: Crowds jam into Caesars Sports Book at Caesars Palace Hotel &amp; Casino to bet on the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League's Super Bowl LVII (which took place in Glendale, Arizona) as viewed on February 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas will play host to the NFL's Super Bowl LVIII, taking place next year at the recently constructed Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Las Vegas Set To Host 2024 Super Bowl

Jamboroo

Toward A Better Playoff Tiebreaker

Brian Cashman sitting at a Bloomberg training terminal and giving a goofy thumbs up at a charity event in 2022.

Annual Charity Day Hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund

Brian Cashman Has Absolutely Had It Up To Here

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Craig Counsell #30 of the Milwaukee Brewers before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Two of the Wild Card Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Wild Card Series – Arizona Diamondbacks v Milwaukee Brewers – Game Two

Managers Matter

attends the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

The 2016 ESPYS – Red Carpet

There’s One Way To Fix The All-Star Game

SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 2: An overhead view as Luke Kunin #11 of the San Jose Sharks fights against Phillip Di Giuseppe #34 of the Vancouver Canucks at SAP Center on November 2, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Kavin Mistry/NHLI via Getty Images)